Bob Sheppard

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Alternative Title:
Robert Leo Sheppard

Bob Sheppard, (Robert Leo Sheppard), American sports announcer (born Oct. 20, 1910, Queens, N.Y.—died July 11, 2010, Baldwin, N.Y.), earned the nickname “the voice of God” for his unmistakably sonorous, precise, and dignified speech as the longtime public address announcer at Major League Baseball’s Yankee Stadium. Sheppard began announcing for the New York Yankees on April 17, 1951, which also marked player Mickey Mantle’s debut with the team and the start of Joe DiMaggio’s final season. In 2000 the Yankees honoured Sheppard with a plaque in their stadium’s Monument Park. His last game was on Sept. 5, 2007, when he retired owing to illness, but a recording of his voice continued to be used to introduce Yankee player Derek Jeter at Jeter’s request. Sheppard also announced for football teams, including the All-America Football Conference’s Brooklyn Dodgers (1947) and New York Yankees (1948–51) and the National Football League’s New York Giants (1956–2005). Sheppard earned a bachelor’s degree in English and speech (1932) from St. John’s University, New York City, and a master’s degree in speech (1933) from Columbia University, New York City. He was chairman of the speech department at John Adams High School in New York City and an adjunct professor of speech at St. John’s, where he announced for the men’s basketball and football teams.